Qantas engine damage causes loud bang

Camera IconA loud bang and unusual vibrations felt on a Qantas flight were caused by corrosion in the engine.

A loud bang, flames and unusual vibrations on a Qantas flight from Los Angeles to Melbourne were caused by corrosion in the engine, an investigation has found.

The incident occurred on the Australian registered Airbus A380, two hours after take off on 20 May 2017, forcing the plane to return to Los Angeles where it landed safely.

Cabin crew members reported the bang and feeling vibrations and some had seen flames and sparks.

The captain told passengers an engine had shut down and they were returning to Los Angeles.

An Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigation, released on Thursday, found the in-flight engine shutdown was caused by corrosion from cleaning chemical residue from the most recent engine service.

Engine manufacturer, Rolls Royce, advised the ATSB it has since taken safety actions as a result of the incident, including an overhaul of cleaning instructions.